Written Answers Monday 7 September 2009

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions there were in the Lothians region in each of the last three years for the (a) sale of alcohol to a person under 18, (b) purchasing of alcohol for consumption by a person under 18, (c) purchase of alcohol or its consumption on a licensed premises by a person under 18 and (d) confiscation of alcohol from a person under 18.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table.

  Persons Proceeded Against in Scottish Courts for Offences Related to Underage Alcohol Consumption1, in the Lothians region, 2005-06 to 2007-08

  

Financial Year
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08


Sale of drink to person under 182
8
15
16


Person under 18 buying excisable liquor or consuming in bar
-
2
1


Purchasing excisable liquor for consumption by person under 18
5
8
8


Confiscation of alcohol from person under 18
-
-
-


Total
13
25
25



  Source: Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services.

  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Covers crime categories sale of drink to person under 18 and wholesaler selling liquor to person under 18, although no crimes of the latter have been recorded in the years reported.

  Please note that prosecution is not the sole course taken in dealing with these offences. Where persons under 18 possess alcohol in a public place, the police have powers under section 61 of the Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Act 1997 to confiscate this alcohol and dispose of it. If the alcohol is surrendered to the police, it is not an offence and so is not included in the recorded crime statistics. It is, however, an offence to fail to comply, for example by failing to surrender the alcohol or by failing to give name and address if requested. During the years reported, for the Lothians region, there were no recorded instances of persons under 18 failing to comply with such a request.

  With regard to this answer, and the answer to question S3W-26513 on 7 September 2009, it should be noted that statistics dealing with court proceedings and recorded crime are not directly comparable as a person may be proceeded against for more than one crime involving more than one victim and there is the possibility that the crime recorded by the police may be altered in the course of judicial proceedings. Also a crime may be recorded by the police in one year and court proceedings concluded in a subsequent year.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Alcohol Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many offences were recorded in the Lothians region in each of the last three years for the (a) sale of alcohol to a person under 18, (b) purchasing of alcohol for consumption by a person under 18, (c) purchase of alcohol or its consumption on a licensed premises by a person under 18 and (d) confiscation of alcohol from a person under 18.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table:

  Number of Recorded Offences Related to Underage Alcohol Consumption1, in the Lothians Region, 2005-06 to 2007-08

  

Financial Year
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08


Sale of drink to person under 181
33
93
99


Person under 18 buying excisable liquor or consuming in bar
6
17
22


Purchasing excisable liquor for consumption by person under 18
21
42
50


Confiscation of alcohol from person under 18
0
1
0


Total
60
153
171



  Source: Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services.

  Note: 1. Covers crime categories sale of drink to person under 18 and wholesaler selling liquor to person under 18, although no crimes of the latter have been recorded in the years reported.

  With regard to this answer, and the answer to question S3W-26512 on 7 September 2009, it should be noted that statistics dealing with court proceedings and recorded crime are not directly comparable as a person may be proceeded against for more than one crime involving more than one victim and there is the possibility that the crime recorded by the police may be altered in the course of judicial proceedings. Also a crime may be recorded by the police in one year and court proceedings concluded in a subsequent year.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Cancer

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is reviewing the age parameters for cervical cancer screening in light of the latest research showing an unfavourable risk-benefit analysis for screening of women between 20 and 25 years of age.

Nicola Sturgeon: The programme’s age range was reviewed by the National Advisory Group on Breast and Cervical Screening in 2005. The group’s advice at that time was to maintain the current age range and frequency but to review again in 2010, when any new published evidence will be taken into account.

Employment

Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional financial support was made available to the Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) to allow it to effectively assist the large number of employees made redundant from the TSC contact centre in Greenock.

Fiona Hyslop: PACE support to assist employees made redundant from the TSC contact centre in Greenock is delivered by services accommodated via mainstream resources and therefore no additional financial support is required. PACE activity has been supported by an additional £7 million nationally which I announced on 25 January this year.

Energy Efficiency

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will estimate the number of dwellings that fall into each Energy Performance Certificate rating, broken down by region.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government does not hold sufficient information on which to base an accurate estimate. The following table details Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) bandings for existing dwellings subject to sale or rental and excludes new construction subject to the building warrant application process introduced on 1 May 2007.

  EPCs Lodged by Energy Rating Banding 1 December 2008 to 16 August 2009*

  

 
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
 


Local Authority
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Total


Aberdeen City
0
563
2,149
2,348
1,333
593
184
7,170


Aberdeenshire
1
121
1,212
1,569
1,300
807
284
5,294


Angus
0
91
767
837
503
297
90
2,585


Argyll and Bute
0
72
410
645
684
435
198
2,444


Clackmannanshire
0
32
371
436
216
59
20
1,134


Dumfries and Galloway
0
41
487
794
813
543
230
2,908


Dundee City
0
227
1,393
1,449
903
455
152
4,579


East Ayrshire
0
130
1,321
1,131
446
147
36
3,211


East Dunbartonshire
0
41
436
713
372
118
24
1,704


East Lothian
0
136
712
865
438
189
62
2,402


East Renfrewshire
0
31
386
637
334
120
32
1,540


Edinburgh, City of
1
2,145
6,346
5,531
3,258
1,364
410
19,055


Eilean Siar 
0
1
11
59
83
99
52
305


Falkirk
1
206
1,095
1,176
541
232
67
3,318


Fife
1
358
2,484
3,290
1,901
608
169
8,811


Glasgow City
0
2,763
8,890
6,215
3,011
1,009
305
22,193


Highland
0
161
930
1,391
1,371
933
314
5,100


Inverclyde
0
310
609
529
329
117
29
1,923


Midlothian
0
49
384
569
314
97
24
1,437


Moray
0
76
782
939
507
270
118
2,692


North Ayrshire
0
155
967
1,222
520
183
83
3,130


North Lanarkshire
0
315
1,848
1,999
854
264
71
5,351


Orkney Islands
0
1
36
137
157
95
46
472


Perth and Kinross
0
194
946
1,137
949
564
206
3,996


Renfrewshire
0
248
1,259
1,431
731
267
110
4,046


Scottish Borders
0
95
766
1,046
880
541
234
3,562


Shetland Islands
0
0
35
78
70
37
19
239


South Ayrshire
0
113
820
1,185
730
244
79
3,171


South Lanarkshire
0
479
2,240
2,546
1,411
512
138
7,326


Stirling
0
136
575
689
465
198
46
2,109


West Dunbartonshire
0
239
1,337
875
317
83
35
2,886


West Lothian
0
315
1,205
1,220
367
98
21
3,226


Grand Total
4
9,844
43,209
44,688
26,108
11,578
3,888
139,319



  Note: *Estimate based on information submitted to the Energy Saving Trust Home Energy Efficiency Database. The information in this table should not be "scaled up" to represent either a regional or national picture of energy rating bandings.

Energy Efficiency

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will estimate the number of non-domestic properties that fall into each Energy Performance Certificate rating, broken down by region.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government does not hold sufficient information on which to base an accurate estimate. The feasibility of establishing a database to hold information from non-domestic Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) is under consideration.

Energy Efficiency

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will estimate the percentage of dwellings being built, or built in the last 36 months, that fall into each Energy Performance Certificate rating.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will estimate the percentage of non-domestic buildings being built, or built within the last 36 months, that fall into each Energy Performance Certificate rating.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government does not hold sufficient information on which to base an accurate estimate.

Enterprise

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines or instructions it gives to (a) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and (b) Scottish Enterprise regarding their policies on undertaking rent reviews of commercial premises leased by them to businesses.

Jim Mather: Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise are like other public bodies required to carry out all their financial undertakings, including the undertaking of rent reviews of commercial premises leased to businesses, within the guidelines set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual.

Enterprise

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it monitors rent rises imposed by (a) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and (b) Scottish Enterprise on businesses leasing commercial premises from them.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government does not monitor rent rises imposed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise or Scottish Enterprise on businesses leasing commercial premises from them. The budgets of both bodies are monitored by the Scottish Government but not to the detailed level suggested by the question.

Enterprise

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, when it determined its funding for (a) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and (b) Scottish Enterprise, it made assumptions on the likely increase or decrease in the income of these agencies from leasing commercial premises to businesses and, if so, what the assumptions were regarding the level of rent increase or decrease and the proportion of leases that would be terminated as a result of any rent increases.

Jim Mather: The level of funding from the Scottish Government to both Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise for the duration of the spending review period 2008-11 was not influenced by any assumption of increased or decreased revenue to those bodies through the leasing of commercial premises.

Enterprise

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) lowest, (b) average and (c) highest percentage rent increase or decrease imposed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise on the rents for commercial premises owned by it in Shetland and leased to business was in (i) 2007-08 and (ii) 2008-09 and is proposed for 2009-10.

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) lowest, (b) average and (c) highest percentage rent increase or decrease imposed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise on rents for commercial premises owned by it in the Caithness and Sutherland area and leased to business was in (i) 2007-08 and (ii) 2008-09 and is proposed for 2009-10.

Jim Mather: Setting the level of rent for commercial properties owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is an operational matter for HIE.

  I have written to HIE’s Chief Executive asking him to respond to you directly on this issue.

Enterprise

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) lowest, (b) average and (c) highest percentage rent increase or decrease imposed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise on rents for commercial premises owned by it in the Inner Moray Firth area and leased to business was in (i) 2007-08 and (ii) 2008-09 and is proposed for 2009-10.

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) lowest, (b) average and (c) highest percentage rent increase or decrease imposed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise on the rents for commercial premises owned by it in the Lochaber, Skye and Wester Ross area and leased to business was in (i) 2007-08 and (ii) 2008-09 and is proposed for 2009-10.

Jim Mather: Setting the level of rent for commercial properties owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is an operational matter for HIE.

  I have written to HIE’s Chief Executive asking him to respond to you directly on this issue.

Ferry Services

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to concerns expressed by residents and businesses in the Orkney Islands and other islands in the Highlands and Islands that are currently not participating in the Scottish Government’s Road Equivalent Tariff ferry pilot, that their exclusion from the pilot is unfair and places them at a competitive disadvantage, particularly in respect of attracting tourists.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government understands the concerns about high ferry fares in Scotland. That is why we are undertaking a study and a pilot exercise into Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) as the basis for future ferry fares in Scotland. The Scottish Government are focussing the RET pilot on the ferry routes to the Western Isles. Pilots are selective by nature and consequently cannot include all areas. Only a real world pilot will tell us how island residents, tourists, businesses, the freight industry and local economies will react to a significant reduction in ferry fares.

Ferry Services

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out an assessment of whether the local economy of the Orkney Islands, and of other islands in the Highlands and Islands that are currently not participating in the Scottish Government’s Road Equivalent Tariff ferry pilot, has been adversely affected by their exclusion from the pilot.

Stewart Stevenson: The consultants undertaking the study are closely monitoring the Road Equivalent Tariff pilot to capture all the information we need to take decisions on future fares levels across the entire Scottish ferries network. That assessment is comprehensive and considers usage and revenue impacts as well as economic and social impacts. The monitoring and evaluation includes Orkney and Shetland and other areas not included in the pilot.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what conversations it has had with national housing organisations regarding the need to provide 10,000 affordable homes for rent in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government holds frequent discussions with national housing organisations to support our shared efforts to increase the supply of affordable housing.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated average unit cost for 2009-10 is for general needs housing for rent provided by a (a) registered social landlord and (b) local authority, showing the (i) overall cost and (ii) that part of the cost paid for directly from the public sector budget.

Alex Neil: The target grant per unit (for a three person house) for a Registered Social Landlord in 2009-10 is £74,000. The final grant rate in a year is dependent on the actual costs and grant rates of all of projects approved in the year. We do not estimate an overall average cost for Registered Social Landlords for the current financial year, but details of actual unit costs in 2008-09 can be found in our outturn report published on 6 August, available at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/AHIP0809Report.

  The maximum subsidy for the programme to incentivise council house building was set at £25,000 per unit. The average grant allocated per unit in 2009-10 for council house building from the first tranche of funds, is £19,000. Councils will be asked to supply construction cost data as projects start on site, allowing the council data to form part of the outturn report for 2009-10.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-25968 by Alex Neil on 3 August 2009, how many of the 4,535 visits to the House Key website were from people seeking support in resolving their individual housing problems.

Alex Neil: This information is not collected as it is not possible to measure the intention of visits to the House Key website.

Justice

Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners have been released on compassionate grounds since 2000.

Kenny MacAskill: Twenty-four prisoners have been released on compassionate grounds since 2000.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Lord Advocate was briefed with details of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi’s current medical condition prior to court proceedings in the High Court to have Mr Al Megrahi’s second appeal against his conviction dropped.

Elish Angiolini: I was not briefed with details of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi’s current medical condition prior to his abandonment of his appeal against conviction.

Justice

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will in future seek at least two medical opinions in determining whether a prisoner has a prognosis of less than three months’ survival, as stated in the Scottish Prison Service guidance on compassionate release, with at least one of such opinions being from a palliative care consultant.

Kenny MacAskill: No. Scottish Prison Service guidance from 2005 provides that in cases where compassionate release is being considered a medical opinion stipulating as clearly as possible the current level of incapacity and likely life expectancy should be obtained. In most cases applications are made very close to the point of the offender’s death and at a time when they are in hospital under the care of a specialist consultant operating in the area of disease from which they are suffering. Specialist consultants are best placed to give a medical opinion on prognosis. It is often the case that the person is not in receipt of palliative care.

Maternity Services

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made to meet the SNP manifesto pledge to ensure that all primary school children receive free fruit and to provide free fruit for pregnant women and pre-school children using the model of market-led pregnancy cards from the major supermarkets.

Adam Ingram: The majority of local authorities have already extended their free school fruit scheme beyond P1 and P2 pupils and we are currently exploring the possibility of securing funding for 2010-11 from the EU under the "EU school fruit scheme" to extend provision of free school fruit to further year groups.

  In addition, in June 2008 we published Healthy Eating Active Living – An action plan to improve diet, increase physical activity and tackle obesity. This included a commitment to broaden out the pledge to provide free fruit to pregnant women and pre-school children using the model of market-led pregnancy cards from the major supermarkets, to encompass maternal and infant nutrition generally and not limited to specific models.

  In September 2008, we also announced support of £19 million available to NHS health boards over the period 2008-11 to improve the nutrition of women of childbearing age, pregnant women and children under five in disadvantaged areas. The broad criteria within which NHS boards have been asked to work include increasing uptake of the Healthy Start scheme, to ensure that everyone who is eligible to claim vouchers to exchange for fresh fruit, vegetables, milk and infant formula does so; supporting work on increasing breastfeeding rates, and investing in training for health professionals. Years 1 and 2 of that funding have already been allocated to NHS boards. Details of the allocation were outlined in CEL 36(2008) Nutrition of women of childbearing age, pregnant women and children under five in disadvantaged areas which can be found at:

  http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/CEL2008_36.pdf.

Ophthalmic Services

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what campaigns there have been or will be to raise awareness of the new elements and eligibility of free eye testing.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has produced a leaflet Your Guide to Free NHS Eye Examinations in Scotland  in association with Health Rights Information Scotland for issue to vulnerable groups in the community. Supplies of the leaflet were sent to Community Health Partnerships for distribution of the leaflets locally to raise awareness of the NHS eye examination with such vulnerable groups, as well as to GP and optical practices.

  The Scottish Government also produces leaflet HCS2 A Quick Guide to Help with Health Costs which contains information on charges for prescriptions, eye examinations, dental treatment, wigs and fabric supports and the value of the vouchers available for glasses and contact lenses. The leaflet is available from GP Surgeries, Community Pharmacies, Dental Practices, Job Centre Plus offices and Citizens Advice offices. It is available online at www.scotland.gov.uk/healthcosts. The HCS1 Are you Entitled to Help with Health Costs is also available on line, providing more detailed information on NHS charges in Scotland. And since the introduction of the NHS eye examination, leaflets and posters issued by NHS Scotland Counter Fraud Services have publicised the eye examination.

  The Scottish Government has also agreed with Optometry Scotland, the professional representative body for optometrists in Scotland, that they will undertake road shows around Scotland to inform optometrists of forthcoming changes to primary and supplementary eye examinations under NHS general ophthalmic services. Associated publicity material will also be provided to the profession to explain the changes which are proposed to take place in early 2010.

  The recent figures released on 28 July 2009 showed that the number of NHS eye examinations has increased by 6.2% from 1.63 million for the year ending 31 March 2008 to 1.73 million for the year ending 31 March 2009 which demonstrates that people in Scotland are clearly recognising the benefits of having an eye examination.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the up-to-date projected commencement date for construction of the Waverley line, is based on the latest information available to Transport Scotland and Scottish Ministers.

Stewart Stevenson: Construction of the main railway infrastructure is forecast to commence in 2011. A significant package of advance works will be delivered in advance of the main line construction, diverting key utilities from the line. This work is scheduled to commence in winter 2009-10.

Roads

Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to make a decision regarding the proposed M876 slip road at Glenbervie.

Stewart Stevenson: I recognise the close interest which the member has shown in the Scottish Ministers’ decision into the proposed M876 slip road at Glenbervie following the public local inquiry.

  The matter remains under active consideration and a decision will be announced as soon as possible. The report of the inquiry will be made available at that time.

Scottish Water

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans Scottish Water has to upgrade the water supply in the Glendale area of Skye.

Stewart Stevenson: The Drinking Water Quality Regulator has confirmed that work to upgrade the quality of the drinking water supplied by Scottish Water to the Glendale area of Skye is proposed as a priority investment in the 2010-15 period.

  Ministers will confirm Scottish Water’s investment objectives for 2010-15 in September 2009.